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Guero-
"We were on our last tank of water and it was full, we had just switched. "
If I may suggest, when you have at least two tanks of anything, the safest way to use them is to use only 1/2 of the first tank, then switch to #2. Now you use #2 up, but you've still got half of the first tank in reserve--instead of having one tank empty and zero reserve.

There are lots of oil platforms and other often unlit obstructions in parts of the Gulf, so you may want the night watch to keep especially alert, and of course to use sunglasses during the day in order to improve night vision.

Excellent suggesiton about switching water tanks. We had 3. (port, starboard, aft).

We had 2 radars, one at nav station and one at helm, so night navigation was fairly safe and always had two people in cockpit during night shifts, always used sunglasses during the day.

All went well, except for this small water incident. We could have refilled water near holbox next day but decided just to go home as quick as we could.

The hunter handled the fairly rough weather pretty well, was fast with the proper reefs and was very dry inside. I quite enjoyed "on-the-fly" main reefing (main is roller) and I'm quite happy with the performance compromise for the ease of handling. Was comfortable overall, if not for that water issue caused by human error.

06-13-2012 09:27 AM

hellosailor

Re: Crossing the gulf and things you forgot to bring aboard

Guero-
"We were on our last tank of water and it was full, we had just switched. "
If I may suggest, when you have at least two tanks of anything, the safest way to use them is to use only 1/2 of the first tank, then switch to #2. Now you use #2 up, but you've still got half of the first tank in reserve--instead of having one tank empty and zero reserve.

There are lots of oil platforms and other often unlit obstructions in parts of the Gulf, so you may want the night watch to keep especially alert, and of course to use sunglasses during the day in order to improve night vision.

06-13-2012 08:47 AM

Guero

Re: Crossing the gulf and things you forgot to bring aboard

I would like to thank all who participated in this thread. Your information was very useful.

The crossing went well, Only thing we missed is...

A guy forgot to turn off the water pressure one night after a shower, didn't notice that one of the tap of the shower would spin freely and not turn off the hot water anymore, basically it remained open, but unnoticed because there's an "on/off" button on the shower head. We were on our last tank of water and it was full, we had just switched. Was fine we were only 1 day and a half from destination. During some rough weather the showerhead fell on the shower floor, murphy's law made it that it felt directly on its on/off button. The whole water tank ended up in the shower sump and bilge. Nobody heard the pump working cause of the rough weather. (We got 10 footers in the Yucatan channel). We arrived home, in a big need of a shower and a pile of unwashed dishes.

Here's a video of a family of dolphins who followed us for a while near the Cuban coast.

I would concur with those that said to bring some ready to eat foods. If you run into any rough weather, the last thing you want to do, or have energy to do is cook.

On longer passages, I've added anti-biotics and pain meds to my 1st aid kit along with some sutures for large gashes, and betadine for infection, and some silvadene for burns. Never had to use em, but ya never know.

05-23-2012 10:03 PM

davidpm

Re: Crossing the gulf and things you forgot to bring aboard

Check battery sizes for every portable device. Usually double and triple A's maybe d and c

05-23-2012 09:17 PM

gathhill

I didn't see "lots of toilet paper" ?

05-23-2012 08:48 PM

06HarleyUltra

Re: Crossing the gulf and things you forgot to bring aboard

RUM!!!!

Fair winds, Smooth sailing.

05-23-2012 02:24 PM

Cruisingdad

Re: Crossing the gulf and things you forgot to bring aboard

I am a big for on gatorade too especially for sea sickness. Cook several meals bfore you leave and put in the fridge to pull out and quickly heat up to eat. I get REALLY hungry offshore and hate cooking anything down below underway.

Get ya some rubber boots. I never go off shore with out them any more. Never stub my toe, feet alway's warm and dry, Alway's sure footed. I like the west marine blue ones. I'm usually the only one with them on deliveries and guy's make fun of me the first day.( they look funny with shorts on) and I get a funny tan line. But on the third day when their athleats foot has salt in it and they've stubbed their sore toe for the second time, they wish they were me. And paper F@#$k'n towels, you can not have too many, and baby powder. And lots of rubbing alcohol for grimy salty face and deisel hands that you've now picked your nose with. And Cheese ravioli in the can, great cold out of the can when your on watch and quells queezines.

Classic post! Haha!

I went Pensacola to Fort Myers Beach a little while back. I do not know when you are leaving, but we were freezing out butts off. This was December-January.

And be prepared fopr the odd storm or squall offshore. If you are prone to sea sickness, take appropriate meds. I use Scope but it does not work on everyone...

Brian

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